Dr. Alan Greene on Central Precocious Puberty

Question

My 7-year-old daughter has CPP (central precocious puberty). She is having vision problems. Is this a symptom of her CPP? What else can I expect?

Answer

The main symptoms that girls experience are breast development, with pubic hair appearing at the same time or shortly afterwards. She may also experience underarm hair and odor, and possibly some acne, but that is not terribly common. Also, height, weight, and bone growth all increase and the rapid growth can lead to growing pains and/or vision problems. Some do get menstrual cycles and pregnancy can occur. (The youngest pregnancy I know of was at age 5.) The medication Lupron should stop menstruation effectively as well as the rest of the maturation.

Mental development tends to stay on pace with their age, but emotional development swings between her age and puberty. Mood swings can be tough, but serious psychological problems are rare.

You may feel as if she is missing her childhood, but much of childhood is about play and not too much responsibility. It's about learning and exploring the world, and she still has a lot of opportunity for all of those core parts of childhood.

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.